Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt predicted on Tuesday he could reduce his own world 100 meters record to 9.54 seconds when the right opportunity comes.

Bolt clocked 9.69 seconds in last year's Beijing Olympic final despite celebrating his victory before he had crossed the finish line.

The 22-year-old Jamaican, who will race against compatriot Asafa Powell over 100 meters at the London grand prix on Friday, told a news conference his coach Glen Mills had told him he could run the 100m in 9.54.

"If the coach says so, he's always right," Bolt said,

Bolt clocked 9.79 seconds at the Paris golden league meeting last Friday despite a poor start and damp, chilly conditions.

Only American double world champion Tyson Gay, who will run over 200 meters at the two-day meeting at Crystal Palace, has run faster this year with a time of 9.77 seconds in Rome.

Bolt said he had to do more work on his 200m before challenging Gay at the Berlin world championships from Aug. 15-23 after losing a month's training following a car accident this year. He stepped on thorns when he climbed out of the car and needed a minor operation on his left foot.

(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2009)